CVE-2018-9924 in iCMS
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in idreamsoft iCMS through 7.0.7. SQL injection exists via the pid array parameter in an admincp.php?app=tag&do=save&frame=iPHP request.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/27/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-9924 represents a critical SQL injection flaw within the idreamsoft iCMS content management system version 7.0.7 and earlier. This security weakness resides in the administrative control panel interface where the application fails to properly sanitize user input before incorporating it into database queries. The specific attack vector involves the pid array parameter within the admincp.php?app=tag&do=save&frame=iPHP request path, which allows malicious actors to manipulate database operations through crafted input sequences.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and parameter sanitization mechanisms within the application's backend processing. When administrators interact with the tag management functionality, the system accepts the pid parameter without proper escaping or encoding of special characters that could be interpreted as SQL commands. This omission creates an exploitable condition where attackers can inject malicious SQL code through the array parameter, potentially gaining unauthorized access to database contents, modifying critical system data, or executing arbitrary commands on the underlying database server.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data compromise, as it provides attackers with potential access to sensitive administrative functions and user data within the CMS environment. Successful exploitation could enable attackers to escalate privileges, extract confidential information including user credentials, modify website content, or even establish persistent access through database-level backdoors. The vulnerability affects the administrative interface specifically, meaning that exploitation typically requires prior authentication to the admin panel, though this could potentially be bypassed through other attack vectors or social engineering techniques.
Security professionals should note this vulnerability aligns with CWE-89 which specifically addresses SQL injection flaws in software applications. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this issue under T1071.004 for application layer protocol manipulation and T1190 for exploitation of vulnerabilities in web applications. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including input validation, parameterized queries, and proper access controls. The recommended remediation involves updating to the latest version of iCMS where this vulnerability has been patched, implementing web application firewalls, and conducting thorough security assessments of all administrative interfaces to identify similar injection vulnerabilities that may exist in other components of the system.